Gyroscopic aerial top



J. H. HUFF GYROSCOPIC AERIAL TOP 2 SheetS Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1952INVENTOR. JAMES H. HuFF ATTORNEY- Jan. 19, 1954 J. H. HUFF GYROSCOPICAERIAL TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1952 INVENTOR. I .[4/755 ftHuFF ogw a m Patented Jan. 19, 1954 GYROSCOPIC AERIAL TOP James H. Hue,West Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 16, 1952, Serial No. 299,137

3 Claims.

1 This application is in part a continuation of my application SerialNo. 152,096, filed March '27, 1950, for Gyrosco-pic Toy (now abandoned).

My invention relates to gyroscopic toys of the type popularly known asthe yo-yo, wherein a rotating member in the form of a pair ofsymmetrical gyroscopic flywheels are mounted in closely spaced relationon a common shaft around which an operating cable (such as wrappingstring) is wound, and wherein the rotating member is alternately woundupon and unwound from the cable, the opposite endof which is held in thehand of the operator who manipulates the .toy by periodically exerting apull against the cable.

The general object of the present invention is to provide such a toywhich, during manipulation, can be bounced against a wall, floor, orother obstacle without in any way interfering with the rotation of therotatable member. To this end,

the invention contemplates, in general, a rotatable member of the typeindicated, which is mounted for rotation within a light, hollow shell inwhich it is completely enclosed, the cable emerging from the shellthrough a slot which is in alignment with the space between the flywheelelements. The shell, which is preferably spherical, functions as ashield for the rotating member and may be bounced against a wall or'the' like without in any way interrupting or slowing down the rotationof the rotatable member.

Among the difiiculties experienced in operating the conventional yo-yoare the knotting of the cable and the rubbing of the cable against theedges of the rotating flywheels at the periphery of the annular spacedefined between them. Another object is to provide a toy which may beoperated without experiencing these difficulties.

A further object is to provide a toy of the general character indicatedabove, which is'of relatively simple and yet sturdy construction. A moreparticular object is to provide such a toy having a shell fabricatedfrom several sections and supporting a novel and simple bearingstructure.

In' a device of this type it may frequently become necessary to adjustor repair the cable in the event it becomes broken, and such operationmay necessitate gaining access to. the interior of the shell.Accordingly, a further object is to provide such a toy having a shellwhich'is in several sections. that can be readily separated for gainingaccess to the rotating member. A still further object is to provide sucha toy in which the shell sectionsmay be separated without disturbing themounting of the rotating Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through thesame;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the union ring;

Fig. 4 is a side view with portions broken away and shown in section toillustrate the means for joining the shell sections of the toy;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the shell sections;

Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the rotor sections;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the toy;

Fig. 8 is a central sectional view of the union ring;

Fig. 9 is a side view of one of theshell sections;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the other shell section;

Fig. 11 is aplan View of the same; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the toy.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my improvedtoycomprisesgenerally a two part shell A and a rotor B. Shell A ispreferably of spher ical shape, although-it may have other shapesgenerally approaching the spherical, but with flattened, recessed orembossed facets or designs on the external surface thereof,- as may bedesired.

Shell construction Shell A is composed of two semi-spherical sections I2and l2, which are attached together-by a union ring I3. Considering themedian-great circle of the union ring i3 as being the equator of theshell, section i 2 has therein an opening defined by an inserted grommetM, through which an operating cable 35 extends to rotor B.

The shell sections l2, l2 are generally of semispherical form, includingspherical wall'portions- At the respective rims are formed integral,

circumferentially elongated lugs l1, H, the opposed faces of whichare'adapted to make abutting contact at the central, equatorial plane ofthe shell. Cylindrical wall portion [6 projects somewhat beyond the lugsl1 and cylindrical wall portion [6 is terminated somewhat short of lugsl1. Accordingly, the projecting portion of wall section [6 is receivablein the space encircled by lugs I1 and is adapted to be snugly embracedby lugs ll, to establish a piloting of the twoshell sections with theirrespective poles in alignment on a common axis.

Shell section 12' has. diametrically opposed, axially projecting ears I8which are adapted to mate in correspondingly shaped notches 19 in shellsection l2 when the two shell sections are brought together. Thisinterengagement of 'ears' i8 and notches [9 establishes and maintains aregistering relation of lugs I! and I1" andprevents any rotation of theshell sections-, one rela-- tive to the other, about their common poleaxis,

such as would displace the lugs ll, H" from registration.

Lugs ll,- 11" project radially outwardly: from the'outer surface. ofwallsections I6; I61. Successive lugs ll, l1 arespaced apartcircumferentially'to define spaces 20 'approximately the same incircumferential length as the lugs. l1, [1; Union ring [3 (Figs. 3an-d58) is provided with two axially spaced series of retainerlugs 2:1,21, the axial spacing of these lugs providing, at the equatorial planeof the ring l3, a space 22 the axial-width of' which is slightly greaterthan the combined axial thickness of lugs H, 11.

Ports 23; 23 are definedv circumferentiall'y between lugs 21, 2|respectively. Ports 23. are axially opposite lugs'2l and :ports'23 areaxially opposite lugs 2|.

It may be noted that; in securing the shell sections together, the two;sections may first. be brought into an abutting engagement in whichmatinglugs IT 'abut. each other; as shownin Fig. 4; and the unionring-13 may then'bezslipped over one of the sections, adjustedxto aposition of concentricity to the pole axis thereof, rotated until aset'of-ports23 'orz23' is brought :into'registry with .lugs 11 or H, asthe' case maybe; and.

then moved further in' the axialdirection; to

cause-lugs I! or H toenter 13116111013178.2330! 23" until the lugs ITor. IT come-intoxengagement: with lugs 2l1or'2l, as the'case may. be;For: example, assuming that ring -.13: istfirst slipped" over shellsection l2, until lugs 2 I, at theinouter axial extremities, makeengagement with lugs I1, rotation of ring l3 will eventually bring lugsI linto; registrywith ports 23: of ringiiS. Ring i3 may then be movedfurtherin the axial.direc-- tion until lugs 2| 'engagejlugs IT. Thisrelative positionof'the parts is shown' in.Fig.. 4: Ring: I3rmay berotated; with lugs. ll, ll "moving in: equatorial space 22, causinglugsll, [1 to estab lish. simultaneous engagement with the" inner axialfaces of both lugs 2| and 2!. This'is. the locked position of the partsas indicated'in' dotted lines in Fig. 4;

By constructing the parts-:ormolded: plastic material. having someslight degreeof compressibility, it becomes possible to provide afairly" snug fitbetween the interlocking lug members;

thus to maintain the parts in assembly"by-"fric'--- tional engagementofthe parts.

Ears l8 are of considerable'length andextend to a-substantial depthbelow the equatorial plane The rotor B Rotor B comprises a pair ofidentical sections each having a staff or trunnion portion 26 and a discportion 21 provided with a rim 28 in the form of an axially openingchannel. Rim 28 may be filled or partially filled with a ring 29 ofrelatively heavy material such as lead, to weight the rotor to anydesired extent. Each section has a hub portion 30 projecting axially aslight distance beyond the inner face offdis'c. portion 21, which isflat. Hub portions 30 come together,

leaving disc portions 21 separated to define an annular space 3! of flatring form. Thus the hub sections 30 and disc members 21 cooperate to.define a .reelin which the cable 35 is wound. Grommet M'lies in theplane of the reel space 31, to guide the cable 35 into and out of thesame.

Thetwo rotor sections are locked together by means of integral pins 32,each projecting from the face of the hub portion of one rotor sectionand seated in an opening '33 in the'hub portion of the other section;The ends of staff sections 26-are of rounded conical form and'are seatedin conical bearing recesses 35' in the respective ears Hi It may now benoted that, in assembling the toy prior to securing the shell sectionstogether, the ears IB may be sprung'apart suffi ciently to allow theends of the staifsecticlnsQG After the shell sections'are assembled andlocked together by to be slipped into recesses 34.

ring [3, the constricting 'tension of the latter'securely restrains earsi8 against yielding outward- 1y, thus preventing any possibility'of therotor becoming dislodged from the bearing recesses 34% Operation Inusing thetoy, it is manipulated in the man ner of a conventional yo-yo,cable 35' being pulled periodically so as to deliver awindingim pulse tothe rotor B such as to continue the 'alter nate winding'and unwinding ofthe cable in reel space 31. Coincidentally with this characteristicyo-yo movement, the toy may 'be -moved in various orbits, as in theoperation of the eon ventional yo-yo.

Additionally, it may when-desired be bounced In this con-- (e. g:,a-vinyl resin such'aspolyvinyl chlorideor acetate monomerroria copolymerofthe two) and the disc sections 21 of'the rotor B maybe'ornamented withappropriate I designs toprovide an attractive appearance.

l'claim't 1. In a gyroscopic toy, a generally spherical shell comprisingmatingshell sections each including a polar zone of sphericalconformation andiaf lateral wall of cylindrical shape, cooperating withthat of the other shell section to define an: equatorial zone'lyingbelow the extended spherical contour of the shell; lugs-extending cir--cumferentially'alongthe rims of said cylindrical portionsin-circumfejrentially spaced relationand projecting radially outwardly;said "shell "having diametrically opposedbearing recesses; a rotorhavingea 'stafi'lth'e ends of which are journalled in: said' recesses,and comprising axially spaced disem'embers and -a hub joiningsaid='disc=mem'-- bers; a cable adapted to be wound around said hub forrotating the rotor; and a union ring having a cylindrical internal wallrotatably fitted to the lateral walls of the shell sections for rotationthereon, and including retainer lugs axially opposed and spaced todefine an annular equatorial space to receive the lugs of said shellsections, said retainer lugs being circumferentially spaced to provideports through which the lugs of said shell sections may be inserted inorder to reach said equatorial space, with the subsequent rotation ofsaid union ring serving to lock said shell section lugs between saidaxially opposed retainer lugs.

2. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said shell sections hasdiametrically opposed ears in which said bearing recesses are formed,said ears being circumferentially separated from adjoining portions ofthe cylindrical wall of said one shell section, so as to be flexiblesufiiciently tospread said bearing recesses for the insertion andremoval of said rotor staff, said union ring, in the assembled toy,restraining said ears against outward flexing movement, and therebylocking said ears upon the ends of said staff.

3. In a gyroscopic toy, a generally spherical shell comprising matingshell sections eachincluding a polar zone of spherical conformation anda lateral wall of cylindrical shape, cooperating with that of the othershell section to define an equatorial zone lying below the extendedspherical contour of the shell; a union ring surroundin said equatorialzone, having a cylindrical inner wall fitted upon the cylindrical 6walls of said shell sections for rotation thereon, and having an outersurface forming substantially a continuation of the spherical surfacesof said shell sections, releasable interlocking means on the respectiveshell sections and on said union ring, for locking the shell sectionstogether through said union ring; one of said shell sections having apair of diametrically opposed ears provided with bearing recesses; arotor having a staff the ends of which are journalled in said recesses,and comprising axially spaced disc members and a hub joining said discmembers; a cable adapted to be wound around said hub for rotating therotor; said ears being circumferentially separated from adjoiningportions of the cylindrical part of said one shell section sufiicientlyto provide for outward flexing such, as to allow the insertion andremoval of said stafi, and being secured against such outward flexingmovement by the engagement of said union ring thereagainst in theassembled toy.

JAMES H. HUFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 59,745 Haven et al. Nov. 20, 1866 617,665 Waterhouse Jan. 10,1899 999,247 OByrne Aug. 1, 1911 1,762,620 Fixen June 10, 1930 2,533,904Urban Dec. 12, 1950 2,605,584 Perker et a1 Aug. 5, 1952

